Mar. 5, 2013

Robert Andrzejczak reacts while being introduced as a candidate for state Assembly. / Staff photo/Charles J. Olson

Written by

VINELAND — The surprises keep coming for Democrats in the 1st Legislative District, but not the good kind.

On Thursday night, N.J. Assemblyman Matt Milam announced his immediate resignation. Democratic officials from three county organizations immediately nominated and endorsed ex-soldier and political newcomer Robert Andrzejczak of Cape May County as his replacement.

On Friday, party officials decided to cancel the endorsement and to re-nominate Andrzejczak in the traditional way — at upcoming party conventions. That decision followed a protest raised the night before that the nomination was illegal and a threat of court action from Paul Sungenis, a Cumberland County Democratic Committee member.

On Monday, Sungenis announced his resignation from the party and disclosed plans to challenge Sen. Jeff Van Drew in the general election as an “independent progressive.”

Van Drew on Monday defended the meeting and Andrzejczak’s nomination.

“It was advertised,” Van Drew said. “We spoke with counsel here. Let me be very clear here. If we wanted to push the issue, it was legal.”

Van Drew said a notice was sent to party members to be at the Cosmopolitan restaurant here last Thursday. The notice announced a meeting and a vote, but it did not state that Milam was stepping down and a replacement would be named.

“Nor should it be,” Van Drew said.

Van Drew said the agenda was kept secret because family members of both Milam and Andrzejczak “preferred it that way.”

Van Drew said the nomination was withdrawn because it does not make sense to engage in a fight over procedures.

“We had overwhelming support,” he added about the meeting. “Everyone jumped to their feet.”

Van Drew said that he, Assemblyman Nelson Albano and Andrzejczak all have to appear at county conventions in any case to seek endorsements to run in this year’s general election. Those conventions now will just serve to handle the issue of Milam’s replacement as well as the regular endorsements, he said.

Andrzejczak, based on Thursday’s action, was expected to be seated in the Assembly this month. That now is pushed back to at least some time in April.

(Page 2 of 2)

Sungenis on Monday challenged Van Drew on the substance of the notice, saying it advertised a meeting but not a vote. He said he could produce the notice.

On Monday morning, Sungenis was interviewed on radio by Don Williams of AM 1400 WOND.

“When I arrived at the meeting, it had been hijacked by state Sen. Jeff Van Drew and his team from Cape May County who were holding a rally to announce that they had picked someone who was going to replace the retiring state Assemblyman Matt Milam,” Sungenis said. “Who nobody even knew was resigning and apparently didn’t actually resign until he made the announcement at that meeting.”

Sungenis said he did not object to Andrzejczak as a candidate, only that Van Drew had ignored party rules and state law.

“He might make a great assemblyman, but this is part of the long chain of history,” Sungenis said. “When (Assemblyman) Nelson Albano was selected to run with Jeff Van Drew years ago, Jeff Van Drew sent word to the county committee that he had a candidate and he wanted his candidate nominated and approved sight unseen. He refused to tell us who it was.”

Sungenis said Van Drew handled the selection of Milam in a similar way a few years later. Van Drew also does not support party positions on “core” issues such as minimum wage, labor laws and gay rights, he said.

Van Drew said he has no problem with Sungenis opposing him on the ballot.

Robert Balicki, chair of the Cumberland County Democratic Party, said he had not been aware of the specific agenda for Thursday night’s meeting. He expressed regret that Sungenis had resigned.

“I agree with him on a lot of stuff, but the motion was on replacing Milam and then he went off on this other stuff (on Thursday),” Balicki said. “He sort of lost control. I understand it. He’s passionate about some issues that are important to him.”

Balicki said no date is set for Cumberland County’s Democratic convention but it will held in March.

Meanwhile on Monday, Cape May County Republicans announced that their convention will be held on March 18 in Cape May.

Cape GOP Chairman Mike Donohue said the party will consider at the convention letters of intent for governor from Gov. Christopher J. Christie; for state Senate from Robert Campbell, mayor of Downe Township; and Susan Adelizzi-Schmidt; and for state Assembly, Kristine Gabor and Sam Fiocchi, a Cumberland County freeholder, and Peter Boyce of Millville.

You will automatically receive the TheDailyJournal.com Top 5 daily email newsletter. If you don't want to receive this newsletter, you can change your newsletter selections in your account preferences.